Our Mission
Technology that closes
the treatment gap.
48.5 million Americans struggle with substance use disorders every year. Fewer than 10% receive any professional help. Sobriety Navigator exists to change that — with free, private, clinically-informed tools that meet people exactly where they are.
The Scale of the Crisis
Why we built this
The addiction recovery crisis is not a shortage of willing people — it's a shortage of accessible, stigma-free, affordable support. Four barriers keep 90% of people from getting help:
Geographic isolation
Millions live in areas with no treatment centers, no meetings, and no therapists within a reasonable distance.
Financial barriers
Residential treatment can cost $20,000–$60,000. Even outpatient care is out of reach for the uninsured.
Social stigma
Addiction is still treated as a moral failure rather than a medical condition. Stigma keeps people silent and isolated.
Provider shortage
There are fewer than 3,000 board-certified addiction medicine physicians in the United States for 48.5 million people in need.
Market Context
Global digital addiction recovery market in 2025
Projected market size by 2033 (15.3% CAGR)
Market share held by freemium models — the most accessible format
Source: Digital Addiction Recovery Companion Application Market Analysis, 2025
Our Approach
AI as adjunct, not replacement
The most critical distinction in digital health: technology functions as an adjunct to human therapeutic care — not a replacement for it. Effective recovery relies on empathy, relationship-building, and human judgment that no algorithm can fully replicate.
Evidence-based tools
Every feature — daily check-ins, journaling, milestone tracking, CBT-informed coaching — is grounded in clinical research on what actually improves recovery outcomes.
Peer support integration
Peer support doubles sobriety rates and reduces anxiety by 62%. Our platform is designed to facilitate human connection, not replace it. Community features are in development.
Seamless escalation
The AI coach is architected as a navigational tool — its primary directive is to stabilize, encourage self-reflection, and guide users toward human support when needed.
Privacy Architecture
Zero-knowledge by design
Recovery data is among the most sensitive information a person can share. Centralizing it creates liability and deters engagement from stigmatized users. We chose a different path.
Local-first storage
Your sobriety date, journal entries, check-ins, and milestones are stored exclusively in your browser's local storage. No cloud database. No user profile on our servers. No account required.
TIAMAT Privacy Proxy
AI chat messages pass through a PII-scrubbing layer before reaching the language model. Names, locations, and identifying details are replaced with anonymized placeholders. The AI never receives unencrypted personal health information.
Stateless AI inference
The AI model has no memory between sessions and no access to your stored data. It operates as a stateless reasoning engine — powerful, but blind to your identity.
HIPAA-aligned design
Our local-first architecture is designed to align with HIPAA and state-level medical privacy laws. Because we never store your health data on our servers, the liability footprint is fundamentally different from traditional health apps.
Safety Systems
Three-tier crisis triage
Mental health tools operating without clinical safety systems pose catastrophic risks to vulnerable populations. Our AI coach uses a multi-layered risk detection architecture — not generic content moderation.
Tier 1 — Elevated Distress
Detected signals
Ambiguous distress signals, elevated anxiety, general overwhelm
System response
AI shifts to grounding exercises and CBT coping tools. Suggests connecting with the recovery community for peer support.
Tier 2 — Acute Risk
Detected signals
Explicit mention of severe cravings, depressive ideation, relapse risk without clear intent
System response
AI pauses generative responses and initiates scripted de-escalation protocols. Direct links to crisis resources are surfaced immediately.
Tier 3 — Immediate Crisis
Detected signals
Clear intent of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or imminent overdose risk
System response
AI generative functions are bypassed entirely. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and emergency resources are displayed immediately and prominently.
In crisis right now? Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7.
What We Stand For
Our core values
Compassion first
Recovery is hard. We approach every resource, every word, and every tool with deep respect for the courage it takes to get and stay sober.
Education as foundation
Understanding addiction is the first step toward overcoming it. We provide evidence-based education written in plain language for everyone.
Privacy by design
Your recovery journey is personal. We never collect personal data, require sign-ups, or sell information. What happens here stays here — literally.
Action over information
Reading about recovery is a start. Taking action is the work. Recovery Compass exists to help you move from learning to doing — every single day.
Community as medicine
Peer support doubles sobriety rates. We're building tools that facilitate real human connection — not algorithmic substitutes for it.
Always free
Every tool, every article, every AI coaching session — free forever. Recovery shouldn't cost money. It costs courage, and you already have that.
Ready to start?
Open Recovery Compass, enter your clean date, and unlock every tool — free, private, and yours.